Can't select seats on Avios redemption

[goldenhorn]

I booked a reward flight on AA via British Airways EC, ORD-PUJ last weekend. It went through smoothly and I got the e-ticket confirmation. I've tried to manage the booking on AA to select our seats multiple times, but I just get an error message. I've tried with the booking reference and the e-ticket number.

Would there be a reason why I can't manage the booking on AA? Is there sometimes a delay with BA getting the ticket info to AA and that's why I can't manage the booking?

 

[SYD]

I booked a reward flight on AA via British Airways EC, ORD-PUJ last weekend. It went through smoothly and I got the e-ticket confirmation. I've tried to manage the booking on AA to select our seats multiple times, but I just get an error message. I've tried with the booking reference and the e-ticket number.

Would there be a reason why I can't manage the booking on AA? Is there sometimes a delay with BA getting the ticket info to AA and that's why I can't manage the booking?

What class of travel and is it eligible for free seat selection?

 

[goldenhorn]

What class of travel and is it eligible for free seat selection?

Economy. I'm not sure if it's eligible. Booking with Avios I didn't get to choose Basic or Main Cabin, which I did for the return cash flights on AA. I chose Basic and then paid for seats.

From the BA e-ticket email, can get as far as the screenshot below, and it says that seat choice is available for each passenger, but when I click 'choose seats' and it takes me to AA site, it rejects e-ticket and booking reference.

The website says "Unable to find your trip. We are unable to retrieve your reservation with the information provided. Please verify your information and re-submit."

 

[SYD]

I would normally expect free seat selection with why reward flights on AA (but there are exceptions eg JQ whY booking with QF points - I wouldn’t have thought that would be an issue). BA of course have their own rules for seat selection for non status PAX.

But, if the AA PNR doesn’t work directly in the AA app or website, then it does sound like some ticketing issue?

 

[goldenhorn]

I would normally expect free seat selection with why reward flights on AA (but there are exceptions eg JQ whY booking with QF points - I wouldn’t have thought that would be an issue). BA of course have their own rules for seat selection for non status PAX.

But, if the AA PNR doesn’t work directly in the AA app or website, then it does sound like some ticketing issue?

Yes, I'm wondering if there's a ticketing issue, too. Would I contact BA or AA to check?

 

[Oubline]

Yes, I'm wondering if there's a ticketing issue, too. Would I contact BA or AA to check?

I think AA uses a different PNR system than BA does. For example the AA references I think will never have a number in it and will only be letters.

I think you should call BA, give them the British Airways booking reference and ask them to tell you the AA booking reference. I’ve done similar before and it’s easy for them to provide.

 

[goldenhorn]

I think AA uses a different PNR system than BA does. For example the AA references I think will never have a number in it and will only be letters.

I think you should call BA, give them the British Airways booking reference and ask them to tell you the AA booking reference. I’ve done similar before and it’s easy for them to provide.

Ah! Thank you. You're right. It's a different PNR system.

This post told me that BA uses Sabre and AA uses Amadeus and showed the instructions for getting the AA reservation number.

I was able to Manage My Booking on AA website and select my seats for free.

 

[Oubline]

Ah! Thank you. You're right. It's a different PNR system.

This post told me that BA uses Sabre and AA uses Amadeus and showed the instructions for getting the AA reservation number.

I was able to Manage My Booking on AA website and select my seats for free.

Awesome! That post is even better than calling.

 

[SYD]

Ah! Thank you. You're right. It's a different PNR system.

This post told me that BA uses Sabre and AA uses Amadeus and showed the instructions for getting the AA reservation number.

I was able to Manage My Booking on AA website and select my seats for free.

Ah, I had assumed you’d already gone back through BA.com website to select seats - it has the link and AA PNR there. I read it that it was giving an error at that point.

BTW, eTickets only work on the AA app, not website…

 

[goldenhorn]

Ah, I had assumed you’d already gone back through BA.com website to select seats - it has the link and AA PNR there. I read it that it was giving an error at that point.

BTW, eTickets only work on the AA app, not website…

Yes, I did go back through the BA website, but when I clicked the link to select seats, it automatically entered the BA PNR on AA, not the AA one (which was written on the BA page further down). I guess it's a bug that it's auto-filling the wrong PNR.

 

[serfty]

I guess it's a bug that it's auto-filling the wrong PNR

Maybe your browser is doing that?